Can Adelaide or Port Adelaide lure any of these South Australian products home in 2021?
The go-home factor players a part for all footy clubs. Who will Adelaide and Port Adelaide be looking at for 2021 and beyond?
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If a South Australian player wants to come home then we will look at them and consider it.
It’s an oft-repeated line Adelaide and Port Adelaide’s key football figures roll out whenever asked about SA football ex-pats and their potential interest in them.
In the recent trade period the Power were able to grant Orazio Fantasia his wish to return to Adelaide while Central District-product Jackson Hately will join the Crows in the pre-season draft after GWS passed up the opportunity to get a return for him.
So which SA players based interstate could the Crows and Power look at now?
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ZAC BAILEY
Age: 21
Current club: Brisbane
Games: 46
Contract status: Expires at end of 2021
Is originally from the Northern Territory but moved to South Australia to attend school and pursue football, getting drafted from Norwood. Had a breakthrough 2020 where he became a lot more consistent for the Lions and finished in the top 10 of their best and fairest. Brisbane would love to keep the speedy midfielder/forward but Joe Daniher’s arrival adds to an increasingly bloated salary cap situation that led to Alex Witherden going to West Coast and the SA clubs could pounce. The Crows in particular would benefit significantly from Bailey.
JACK LUKOSIUS
Age: 20
Current club: Gold Coast
Games: 38 games
Contract status: Expires at end of 2022
Arguably the dream for either of the two SA clubs, well along with Izak Rankine, you could imagine both the Crows and Power both starting an operation get Lukosius home. He is happy on the Gold Coast but does have a good friendship with Port star Connor Rozee and could this as well as the Power’s promising future be the lure to get him out of the Suns a year early?
IZAK RANKINE
Age: 20
Current club: Gold Coast
Games: 12
Contract status: Expires at end of 2022
Was quick to sign a new deal at the Suns but there is a sense that Rankine could be lured back to SA. Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps has said the club will look to snatch Lukosius and Rankine from the Suns’ clutches while the Crows are crying out for a player with Rankine’s x-factor. Could he be the man to fill idol Eddie Betts’ shoes at West Lakes?
LUKE DUNSTAN
Age: 25
Current club: St Kilda
Games: 104
Contract status: Expires at end of 2021
Was linked with a potential move to the Crows when Brad Crouch announced he wanted to go to the Saints and now there is more competition in the St Kilda midfield does Dunstan look for a move back to SA? He is still young enough to appeal to both clubs.
AARON FRANCIS
Age: 23
Current club: Essendon
Games: 35
Contract status: Expires at end of 2022
Has sought a trade back to SA in the past but neither side chose to make a move despite his stellar junior career. For all his talent Francis has failed to really kick on at Essendon. Could either the Power or the Crows get the key utility on the cheap and help him realise his talent?
WILL GOULD
Age: 19
Current club: Sydney
Games: zero
Contract status: Expires at end of 2021
Surprisingly didn’t play a game for the Swans in 2020 despite plenty of youth getting their chance in Sydney. Already has an AFL-ready body and could be a good option as a defender.
CALLUM COLEMAN-JONES
Age: 21
Current club: Richmond
Games: 1
Contract status: Expires at end of 2021
Will be suspended for the start of next season after his late night incident in front of a kebab shop but there is plenty to like about the young tall. Ivan Soldo’s injury means the 2m ruck/forward becomes a bit more important to the Tigers’ depth but the Sturt product would be an intriguing addition for the Crows in particular.
JORDON SWEET
Age: 22
Current club: Western Bulldogs
Games: none
Contract status: Expires at end of 2021
Did get some interest from the Crows before signing a new deal with the Bulldogs. Yet to make his debut for Luke Beveridge’s side but did show something in North Adelaide’s SANFL flag. Again will depend on what tall stocks the two SA clubs both have but he could help with depth.
TOM SPARROW
Age: 20
Current club: Melbourne
Games: 7
Contract status: 2022
Has showed some promising signs in his limited appearances for the Demons and if this continues in 2021 then both SA clubs should be asking the question. Would add something to the midfields of both clubs as a young prospect.
MITCH HINGE
Age: 22
Current club: Brisbane
Games: 3
Contract status: Out of contract
A return for the 190cm Glenelg product could be on the cards sooner than next year with the Crows eyeing off Hinge with his contract up. A strong runner, the defender looks to be a good fit for Adelaide even though Brisbane are keen to keep him.
ALEX NEAL-BULLEN
Age: 24
Current club: Melbourne
Games: 80
Contract status: Expires at end of 2021
Has been inconsistent over the past two years but there is plenty of upside with Neal-Bullen, who could provide the Crows or the Power with some outside run. Melbourne also seem to be open to Neal-Bullen departing as well.
LUKE VALENTE
Age: 20
Current club: Fremantle
Games: none
Contract status: Expires at end of 2022
Hasn’t played for the Dockers yet in their rebuild, owing much to a groin injury, but there are admires of the 2018 South Australian under-18 captain. If Valente can’t crack into the Fremantle side in 2021 then perhaps the Crows and Power should see if he wants to come back to Adelaide.
JORDAN DAWSON
Age: 23
Current club: Sydney
Games: 41
Contract status: Expires at end of 2021
Sydney will be keen to keep him but both SA clubs would love to have Dawson’s increasingly impressive ability in defence in their sides.
Comfortable in the back line and able to use his accurate left foot in transition, Dawson pushed forward at times to have an impressive amount of score involvements for the Swans in 2020.
Originally published as Can Adelaide or Port Adelaide lure any of these South Australian products home in 2021?
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